Flying high up in the skies above the Masai Mara is the ultimate safari experience. The landscape below is a never-ending exciting mixture of riverine forests, sprawling savannahs, towering escarpments and rugged rivers. Against a backdrop of stunning sunrises, hot-air balloon flights in the Masai Mara give you a unique vantage point of the abundant wildlife living below. There’s really nothing quite like it, the view is unparalleled and the experience is unforgettable. There is nothing quite like it. The absolute peace of immense vistas, muted colours and crisp fresh air… and the ever present promise of something wild. as the balloons float you silently above it all “like a dream come true”.

The hot air balloon safari tours in Kenya lift off at dawn (06:15) after coffee and a flight briefing. The one hour flight will give you a bird’s eye view of the best East Africa has to offer in the magnificent setting of the Great Rift Valley. After you land, a champagne breakfast in the bush adds to the buzz you will get from the early morning air and the sights and sounds that only an eagle ever sees. Early morning is the ideal time to see wild animals on the plains, and in the Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya it is an experience you will never forget.

Hot-air balloon flights are quite pricey, especially in remote areas such as the Masai Mara. Hot air balloon ride prices start at US$ 450 per person. One of the reasons for this is the fact that balloons can only be used for a limited number of hours before they need replacing. After approximately 850 flight hours, balloons are retired and a new balloon must be purchased in order to guarantee the safety of those who board a balloon. What also makes hot air balloon flights expensive is the cost of fuel and crew to operate the hot air balloon. Crews are made up of six crew members and a licenced balloon pilot. An additional ten people behind the scenes (per balloon) are responsible for getting each hot air balloon airborne. In total, this adds up to quite a group of people whose livelihoods depend on the proceeds from hot air balloon flights. In addition to this, each hot air balloon flight requires recovery vehicles, transfer vehicles and back-up operations. To top this off, a large portion of the hot air balloon flight fees are made up of conservation fees.

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